Konoha Ninja Shop System

Konoha Village – Hokage Office

Knock knock knock.

The rhythmic sound of knocking echoed through the quiet office.

"Come in," Shimura Danzō said in a deep, steady voice as he lifted his head from the scroll he was reading. Slowly, he placed the document on the desk in front of him and leaned back in his chair.

The door creaked open, and Nara Shikaku stepped into the room with a stack of documents cradled in his arms.

"Nara Shikaku," Danzō said with a faint smile, "what brings you here?"

Shimura Danzō had always held a certain admiration for Nara Shikaku. After all, it was Shikaku who had orchestrated the well-planned exposure of the secrets and questionable actions of Sarutobi Hiruzen. That strategic move united the major clans of Konoha in a public outcry, forcing Sarutobi to relinquish his post as Hokage in disgrace. It was that turning point that had finally allowed Shimura Danzō to step into the position he had coveted for decades.

But Danzō had not forgotten the minor hiccup in their relationship. Shikaku had once foolishly suggested that Tsunade—the loud, reckless, and hot-tempered kunoichi with golden hair—should be made Hokage. That absurd suggestion had infuriated Danzō to the point where he literally fainted from high blood pressure.

Danzō had thought then that his lifelong dream would never be realized. Tsunade, despite being away from the village, had immense respect and credibility. Once she returned, the position would inevitably be hers. And with her strength and backing, she would be nearly impossible to dethrone.

Unless... a miracle occurred, such as Tsunade meeting an untimely death like the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. But the odds of that were almost nonexistent.

Lying on a hospital bed, full of resentment and disappointment, Danzō had all but given up—until Shikaku paid him a visit. In his usual calm and analytical tone, Shikaku explained that Tsunade had been gone for too long and couldn't return in the short term. As a result, the clan leaders had come to a temporary decision: Shimura Danzō would act as the Hokage until Tsunade returned.

Upon hearing that, Danzō leapt out of the hospital bed like a man reborn. Gone were the traces of fatigue and illness—his heart soared. Even if it was only as Acting Hokage, it meant he finally held power.

Since assuming the position, Danzō had thrown himself entirely into his duties. He rose before dawn, worked past midnight, and remained seated at his desk for hours on end, pouring over documents, giving orders, and dealing with village matters. Though the workload was grueling, he didn't mind at all. He loved every second of it.

Because this had been his ambition ever since childhood. This was what he had lived for. And now that the dream was within reach, he was going to hold on to it with everything he had.

"I've received a document from the Daimyo of the Land of Fire," Shikaku said, setting a scroll on Danzō's desk. "It concerns the appointment of the Fifth Hokage."

At those words, Danzō's expression stiffened. A wave of panic surged through his chest. Had they found Tsunade already?!

His heart skipped a beat. This was too fast—far beyond his expectations. He had hoped to enjoy at least a few months of authority, bathe in the respectful gazes of the villagers, and put his grand strategies into motion. He hadn't yet had time to assert dominance over the Uchiha remnants, nor start his reforms to strengthen the village from the shadows. And now… this?

His lips trembled as he took the scroll with slightly shaking hands. It felt like a stone slab crushing down on his chest. Heavy. Ominous.

He stared at the sealed scroll, hesitant to break it open. Fear lingered in his heart—the fear that this document would confirm his worst suspicion: the official appointment of Tsunade as the new Hokage.

Across the desk, Nara Shikaku watched him silently, his lips curling slightly. To Shikaku, Danzō's reaction was completely expected. If Tsunade were really back, there's no way this man would be Hokage for even a second longer.

Shikaku knew full well what kind of man Shimura Danzō was—manipulative, brutal, and consumed by his hunger for control. Danzō had done countless shady things behind the scenes in the name of protecting the village. Now, watching the man tremble before the scroll, Shikaku was quietly relieved. He was almost certain that Danzō would soon be ousted, replaced by someone far more competent.

But then something unexpected happened.

Danzō finally broke the seal and unrolled the scroll. His eyes scanned the title at the top, and instantly, it was as if a bolt of lightning struck him.

His entire body shuddered violently. The blood drained from his face, leaving it deathly pale. The scroll nearly fell from his hands as his lips parted in shock.

"'F-Fifth Hokage Appointment Notice...'" he muttered, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible. "No… no… the one thing I feared most has really happened?"

His breath quickened. Sweat gathered on his forehead. The despair in his eyes deepened.

He couldn't understand how they had located Tsunade so quickly. He had only been in office for three days—just three! He hadn't even had time to taste the full pleasure of power, to reshape the world around him, to solidify his control.

But then, something strange caught his attention in the content of the letter.

He continued reading, almost afraid to hope—but too curious to stop. And then, his eyes widened as he reached the crucial line:

"The villagers of Konoha have chosen Senju Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage. However, due to Tsunade's current inability to assume the position, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire hereby appoints Acting Hokage Shimura Danzō as the official Fifth Hokage of Konoha Village."

The words repeated in his mind over and over. Appoints Shimura Danzō as the official Fifth Hokage...

He stared at the document in disbelief.

Time passed. The room fell utterly silent, save for Danzō's ragged breathing.

And then, the silence shattered as Danzō threw back his head and burst into laughter.

"HA! HAHAHAHA!! I did it! I finally did it! I… am the Hokage now!"

His voice echoed through the office, filled with uncontrollable joy. He stood from his chair, hands shaking with excitement.

Across the room, Shikaku was stunned. The sudden outburst didn't make sense. He frowned, his curiosity piqued. Slowly, he reached across the desk and picked up the scroll, reading it carefully.

As his eyes moved down the page, his expression darkened.

And then... his pupils contracted. His jaw dropped.

"What... what the hell?!" he muttered under his breath. They actually approved Danzō?

The air in the room grew heavier. Danzō, meanwhile, looked like a man reborn, as if the gods themselves had anointed him. He laughed and shouted to himself in madness and joy, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in Shikaku's mind.

Shikaku's hands clenched the scroll tightly. How could the Daimyo be so blind? he thought. How could they let someone like Danzō—of all people—become Hokage?!

He had hoped the appointment would be temporary, that once Tsunade returned, Danzō would be removed quietly. But now, with this official decree in place, Danzō wasn't just acting Hokage—he was the real one.

Shikaku's heart sank.

He knew Danzō far too well. This was a man who built Root in secret, experimented on orphans, and silenced dissent. He was not a benevolent leader. He was a tactician obsessed with achieving victory at any cost, a man who would plunge Konoha into darkness if it meant control.

Looking at the twisted grin on Danzō's face, Shikaku's gut twisted with regret.

Maybe... Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't so bad after all, he thought bitterly.

Yes, Hiruzen had flaws. He turned a blind eye to corruption, tolerated a decaying bureaucracy, and let old systems rot. But at least he wasn't dangerous. At least he had limits. When paid, he did his job. He kept the village running.

Danzō, on the other hand, didn't care about money. Shikaku suspected he wouldn't stop at political power. He'd mobilize Root and ANBU alike to raid homes, seize assets, eliminate opposition—and call it "for the good of Konoha."

Shikaku lowered his eyes and sighed deeply.

He had hoped for change—real change. But now, that hope had turned into a nightmare.

As he stood in the Hokage's office, watching the celebration of a man who should have never tasted power, Shikaku could only pray.

He prayed that Danzō would somehow restrain himself.

He prayed that Konoha could survive what was coming.

And most of all, he prayed for Peter—for his son, and the next generation. They would be the ones to bear the consequences if this new Hokage let his darker instincts run wild.

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